Protector deity of people born in the year of the Ox and the Tiger.
The statue is shown once a year, on January 12.

- quote Kōbō Daishi performed the Gumonjihō (reciting the Mantra of Kokūzō one million times) at the age of 15 on the summit of Mt. Tairyū. He later built this temple on the same location on the order of Emperor Kammu. This is one of the few locations where we are certain that legend is correct, and that Kōbō Daishi did visit this mountain, because he wrote about it in his own words. Another legend states that the temple's name comes about because a miraculous image, guarded by a great dragon, appeared during Emperor Jimmu's (the first Japanese Emperor) unification campaign.

It took Kōbō Daishi fifty days to recite the Mantra of Kokūzō on the peak of this mountain. Yet, according to his writings, he was unsuccessful and didn't find the enlightenment that he was desperately searching for. He did, though,receive some spiritual encouragement from his experience and made a vow to go to Cape Muroto to continue his training.

There was a serious fire here in 1895, but the hondō, daishidō, and pagoda all escaped damage. Because Kōbō Daishi performed the Gumonjihō here (twice), a Gumonji shrine is preserved in the temple courtyard.

The temple is located at an elevation of 610 m (2,000 ft) and considered a nansho temple with difficult access even though there is now a cable car which can take you to the top. If you walk, though, the trail is steep and tiring, although the scenery is beautiful.

Frederick Starr mentions a monument to Kōbō Daishi on the summit of the mountain. Starr also notes being in a fine room in the temple where there were several painted screens, one being 150 years old and containing paintings of the 53 stages of the Tokaidō. He also says that this is the only temple which was both founded by Kōbō Daishi and where he served as the head priest. Starr goes on to recount how Kōbō Daishi meditated and fasted here for 100 days despite the temptations of 'evil spirits' who masked themselves as a fair woman, a terrible dragon, and other forms (i.e., he performed the gumonjihō ritual). But he conquered the evil spirits and after the mortification practices he performed many miracles both for himself and his companions.

Starr was given a fuda amulet while here which was called Kumano-no-gō. It is used when a contract is entered between two people. A bit of the paper is steeped in water and drank. After this, if one of the two people breaks the contract he will vomit blood. It can also be used to catch criminals as they will vomit blood if they drink water in which a bit of this has been steeped. Starr also notes that there is exorcism paper here as well.

Starr notes a large limestone cave in the area filled with stalactites and a subterranean river. The area is honeycombed with these caves, among them the Dragon Cave. Henro come here to pray for rebirth and, since the cave has come to symbolize the womb, for fertility. - source : www.shikokuhenrotrail.com

Tairyuji temple is in the summit of the mountain with an above sea level of 600m.
You can go in a rope way to this temple from Wajiki town of the Nakagawa upstream.
When you climb on foot, it takes 26km from Kakurinji temple for about 8 hours.

The Tairyuji temple called West Koyasan has grown thick by the big Japan cedar tree of about 1000 year.

Kobo Daishi built this temple by Emperor Kammu's command in 793.

The Kokuzo Bodhisattva of the principal image says that the Kobo Daishi engraved by himself. The place where the 19 years old Kobo Daishi self-trained is Tairyugadake 太龍嶽. There is a large boulder where he sat on all day long 求聞持修行.

That is recorded on Kobo Daishi's work. The name of Tairyuji temple was given in
connection with the Shashinzan and
the large dragon which protected Kobo Daishi. Although this temple also followed the rise and fall, it was revived in 1095.
The feudal lord Miyoshi, and all the past lords believed in the Tairyuji temple deeply, and protected it.

A ropeway links Tairyuji Temple, 21st of the 88 Hallowed Grounds in the Shikoku Region. Tairyuji stands on the steep hill of Mt. Tairyuji and the "Washi no sato" roadside facilities ("Michi no eki").
The cable spans a river and a mountain; its pillars are the largest in the world. Its 101-passenger capacity is among the largest in Japan.... www.kansai.gr.jp/Collection/asp/